1. Arriving by train is easier than you think (and more fun)
Come from anywhere – you only need to reach Windermere train station and the Lake District is your oyster – bike hire, bus routes, lake cruises and more. Especially if you’re travelling from a city, it’s highly likely you’ll arrive more quickly and with less stress if you travel by train, just like we did. Imagine, it only takes about 3 hours to reach Windermere from London when you take the train…
What’s more, you can often save time and money by purchasing your train and bus travel at the same time. For example, the Lakes Day Ranger provides a full day out in the Lakes – including train travel on lines between Lancaster, Morecambe, Workington and Windermere, bus travel throughout Cumbria and even a cruise on Lake Windermere…we’ve already decided to buy this ticket for a Lancastrian friend for their birthday!
2. Windermere is your hub for car-free adventures
It all starts here – walks, bike rides, bus routes, boat trips – all without the need for a car. Even if you arrive without making a plan first, you can head straight to Windermere Tourist Information (just outside the train station) to work out the next leg of your journey.
3. The Cross Lakes Experience
This fantastic service runs from early April, so we thought we’d give you a heads up in good time to make your car-free plans for the summer.
One easy ticket buys you a combination of bus routes, bike rides and beautiful lake cruises – which link together to ferry you around many of the Lake District’s highlights at your very own pace, and at a very decent price. This ticket makes it surprisingly easy to reach classic walking territory and scenery highlights, while also providing an easy route to attractions such as Beatrix Potter’s home Hill Top, family-friendly Wray Castle, Go Ape in Grizedale Forest – and in some cases you’ll also receive a discount on entry price when you show your bus ticket.
We absolutely love this bus route – the views are fantastic (especially as you arrive and see Coniston Water for the first time) and you get a real feeling of escape when your eyes are free to wander. The Coniston Rambler takes you through some of the Lake District’s classic adventure territory, so it’s worth noting that spaces for bikes are also available.
We headed straight for Coniston to find our pint of Bluebird, but this bus route is really all about hopping on and off and taking your time – explore Hawkshead, take a hike from Ambleside… check out how much you can see en-route.
